Scale Shops turnout switch machine

[RR_Mel]

I bought a half dozen of them but not for switch machines.  They would work great for switch machines, I bought mine for animation.  I can set the motor speed from almost 0 to the max by adjusting the voltage.

 

I paid a lot more than $1 for the ones I bought.  I’ve had four driving my animation for at least three years.  I only used two of the micro switches for my purpose.  I used a 6” long 6-32 thraded rod to move a guy working in my diesel maintenance shop.  The concept is super simple and works flawlessly.

 

 

Mel

 

 

My Model Railroad   

http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/

 

Bakersfield, California

 

I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.

 

[SeeYou190]

rrebell

Those are the ones.

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Good luck with them. We used them for about 10 years on a portable N scale layout with Scale Rails of Southwest Florida. I think there were about 20 in the industrial area.

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We would usually have to adjust one or two of them every couple of months. Adjusting to position where the contacts open to cut off power to the motor was the biggest headache. They are not stall type motors.

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I guess looking back, they were pretty reliable. Make sure you can get to them as easy as possible. I would caution against using them in hard to get to places.

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-Kevin

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[rrebell]

SeeYou190

Are these the ones that use a screw drive mechanism to slide a motion member down a plastic I-Beam?

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If so, they mount directly under the layout and you must bend a "Z" rod to transfer the motion to the throwbar.

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You must run them slow. If they go fast, and the contact springs get a little weak, the motion member will go right off the end of the I-Beam.

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I used these on two layouts. They can be reliable, but they require constant maintenance. The Tortoise is much better.

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If you are up for a challenge... go for it.

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-Kevin

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Those are the ones.

[SeeYou190]

Are these the ones that use a screw drive mechanism to slide a motion member down a plastic I-Beam?

.

If so, they mount directly under the layout and you must bend a "Z" rod to transfer the motion to the throwbar.

.

You must run them slow. If they go fast, and the contact springs get a little weak, the motion member will go right off the end of the I-Beam.

.

I used these on two layouts. They can be reliable, but they require constant maintenance. The Tortoise is much better.

.

If you are up for a challenge... go for it.

.

-Kevin

.

[rrebell]

I just bought a bunch of these but the instructions are not clear to me how to connect to switch from under layout. Also can I use lower voltage to make the machine work slower. Last the instructions say I need diodes between spdt and power, which ones to use, the ones to the turnout are there. I might have just wasted money but for less than $1 each I fiqued I din't have nuch to lose.